The Shafer House

Melissa
The Shafer House

Best Bites

Our favorite places to eat in town!
Our favorite little ice cream place! Great, locally made, hand scooped ice cream. For a taste of Michigan, try the Boston Cooler, a sweet treat that's been a hit in the Mitten since the 1800's.
The Daily Scoop
350 South Jefferson Street
Our favorite little ice cream place! Great, locally made, hand scooped ice cream. For a taste of Michigan, try the Boston Cooler, a sweet treat that's been a hit in the Mitten since the 1800's.
The Courthouse Pub is just down the street, a nice quiet restaurant with options for the whole family.
Courthouse Pub
160 W Maple St
The Courthouse Pub is just down the street, a nice quiet restaurant with options for the whole family.
Very cool microbrewery in Mason, Michigan! Their tap list includes 17 beers, 2 ciders, 1 seltzer, and 3 seltzer slushies… all brewed in-house. The lit patio is a great space in the summer, a lively spot for live music and comedy events. During the winter you can still enjoy the patio in these cozy igloos and greenhouses. They were a life-saver during the pandemic!
Bad Brewing Company
440 S Jefferson St
Very cool microbrewery in Mason, Michigan! Their tap list includes 17 beers, 2 ciders, 1 seltzer, and 3 seltzer slushies… all brewed in-house. The lit patio is a great space in the summer, a lively spot for live music and comedy events. During the winter you can still enjoy the patio in these cozy igloos and greenhouses. They were a life-saver during the pandemic!
This newly opened bakery has amazing baked goods fresh out of the oven every weekend. They feature beautiful breads, pastries, cheesecakes, and cookies to tempt your taste buds. Each day there is one gluten-friendly treat available, which really means a lot to my family!
Risen Breakfast & Bakery
402 South Jefferson Street
This newly opened bakery has amazing baked goods fresh out of the oven every weekend. They feature beautiful breads, pastries, cheesecakes, and cookies to tempt your taste buds. Each day there is one gluten-friendly treat available, which really means a lot to my family!
Cute little coffee shop and bookstore downtown with a great vibe. Beautiful local art featured in their indoor seating area. Great options for every coffee or tea aficionado. Nice selection of books and stationery.
Bestsellers
360 S Jefferson St
Cute little coffee shop and bookstore downtown with a great vibe. Beautiful local art featured in their indoor seating area. Great options for every coffee or tea aficionado. Nice selection of books and stationery.
Every community needs a little hole-in-the-wall dive like this. Asian Taste features an American as well as an authentic Chinese menu, which I appreciate. I lived in China many years ago and absolutely love their diverse menu and friendly atmosphere.
Asian Taste
132 South Cedar Street
Every community needs a little hole-in-the-wall dive like this. Asian Taste features an American as well as an authentic Chinese menu, which I appreciate. I lived in China many years ago and absolutely love their diverse menu and friendly atmosphere.
Phenomenal pizza (including gluten-friendly), sandwiches, salads, and more. Beautiful restaurant inside & out. Weekends get really busy, so I highly recommend getting reservations. They also have a convenient drive-through if you just want to get something to enjoy back at home.
12 personas locales recomiendan
Klavon's Pizzeria & Pub
318 W Kipp Rd
12 personas locales recomiendan
Phenomenal pizza (including gluten-friendly), sandwiches, salads, and more. Beautiful restaurant inside & out. Weekends get really busy, so I highly recommend getting reservations. They also have a convenient drive-through if you just want to get something to enjoy back at home.
If you're looking for an upscale, fine dining experience, Capital Prime is a short drive away. Absolutely delicious steaks, salads, and seasonal options. I've heard they have a nice wine list. Beautiful atmosphere, but not a family restaurant.
7 personas locales recomiendan
Capital Vine
2320 Showtime Dr
7 personas locales recomiendan
If you're looking for an upscale, fine dining experience, Capital Prime is a short drive away. Absolutely delicious steaks, salads, and seasonal options. I've heard they have a nice wine list. Beautiful atmosphere, but not a family restaurant.

Best Walkable Destinations

The Shafer House is just a short stroll from these Mason Icons. Be sure to make time to walk downtown!
Within walking distance is Michigan Barnwood & Salvage. A unique shop featuring over 100 local artisans, and the raw materials to make your own masterpiece. I love the smell of the freshly cut wood and to browse the beautiful live-edge section.
Michigan Barn Wood & Salvage LLC
352 West Columbia Street
Within walking distance is Michigan Barnwood & Salvage. A unique shop featuring over 100 local artisans, and the raw materials to make your own masterpiece. I love the smell of the freshly cut wood and to browse the beautiful live-edge section.
Great variety shop full of unique toys, games, housewares, fabrics, and a full selection of Hallmark cards. The candy selection is amazing, featuring some hard-to-find, old-time treats. It's a great place to browse while cool off or warm up on your walk downtown.
Kean's
406 South Jefferson Street
Great variety shop full of unique toys, games, housewares, fabrics, and a full selection of Hallmark cards. The candy selection is amazing, featuring some hard-to-find, old-time treats. It's a great place to browse while cool off or warm up on your walk downtown.
Ware's can definitely help with whatever ails you, but this historic fixture also features an assortment of gifts and fashion accessories.
Ware's Pharmacy
304 South Jefferson Street
Ware's can definitely help with whatever ails you, but this historic fixture also features an assortment of gifts and fashion accessories.
The Maple Street Mall is so much more than an antique shop. It features many "shops" that each have their own unique aesthetic and specialties, ranging from vintage and upcycled clothing, comic books, beautifully refinished furniture, and true antiques.
Maple Street Mall
108 West Maple Street
The Maple Street Mall is so much more than an antique shop. It features many "shops" that each have their own unique aesthetic and specialties, ranging from vintage and upcycled clothing, comic books, beautifully refinished furniture, and true antiques.
Year-round, indoor farmer's market featuring home-brewed kombucha, local produce and meats, and all kinds of locally-made crafts and preserves. Great place to shop for local farm-to-table meals. Everything here is grown and made within a few miles of the shop.
LFA Farmers Market
103 East Maple Street
Year-round, indoor farmer's market featuring home-brewed kombucha, local produce and meats, and all kinds of locally-made crafts and preserves. Great place to shop for local farm-to-table meals. Everything here is grown and made within a few miles of the shop.
The Mason Antiques District is like a village of its own, with winding pathways between 8 historic buildings packed with an impressive display of antiques and locally made goods. Special events (and deals) pop up monthly!
Mason Antiques District
208 Mason St
The Mason Antiques District is like a village of its own, with winding pathways between 8 historic buildings packed with an impressive display of antiques and locally made goods. Special events (and deals) pop up monthly!
Rayner park is directly adjacent to the Fairgrounds and includes a massive wooden play structure, wooded trails, grills, pavilions, even a stage.
Rayner Park
738 East Ash Street
Rayner park is directly adjacent to the Fairgrounds and includes a massive wooden play structure, wooded trails, grills, pavilions, even a stage.
Less than a block away is Bond Skatepark, a small but well-thought out park with rails, and a bowl. There is also an arena for roller hockey!
Bond SkatePark
Less than a block away is Bond Skatepark, a small but well-thought out park with rails, and a bowl. There is also an arena for roller hockey!
Accessible through the Community Gardens on Jefferson St., this is one of my favorite places to walk. The paths are paved and kept mostly clear in winter. Early morning or evening walks are often rewarded with sights of deer, muskrats, and other wildlife.
Hayhoe Riverwalk
Hayhoe Riverwalk
Accessible through the Community Gardens on Jefferson St., this is one of my favorite places to walk. The paths are paved and kept mostly clear in winter. Early morning or evening walks are often rewarded with sights of deer, muskrats, and other wildlife.

Neighborhoods

Mason is a wonderfully walkable community, full of unique downtown shops, beautiful architecture, parks, trails, and restaurants. The courthouse lawn frequently plays host to outdoor concerts, movie nights, festivals, and parades.
Mason
Mason is a wonderfully walkable community, full of unique downtown shops, beautiful architecture, parks, trails, and restaurants. The courthouse lawn frequently plays host to outdoor concerts, movie nights, festivals, and parades.

Entertainment

Great options for excursions in the area.
Go Green! Go White! Catch a big 10 game at MSU while you're here! Football, Basketball, Soccer, and Hockey are all great experiences.
22 personas locales recomiendan
Spartan Stadium
325 W Shaw Ln
22 personas locales recomiendan
Go Green! Go White! Catch a big 10 game at MSU while you're here! Football, Basketball, Soccer, and Hockey are all great experiences.
Beautiful venue for broadway productions, or a night out at the Lansing Symphony.
25 personas locales recomiendan
Wharton Center for Performing Arts
750 E Shaw Ln
25 personas locales recomiendan
Beautiful venue for broadway productions, or a night out at the Lansing Symphony.
Nice trails for riding or walking, splash pad, swimming, paddle boats, and a large play structure. In the winter they offer sledding and hot cocoa at the concessions stand.
23 personas locales recomiendan
Parque de la Isla del Halcón
1601 E Cavanaugh Rd
23 personas locales recomiendan
Nice trails for riding or walking, splash pad, swimming, paddle boats, and a large play structure. In the winter they offer sledding and hot cocoa at the concessions stand.
"Punch boredom in the face." High speed go-karts, axe throwing, rage rooms and an arcade all in one. Also a bar with 32 beer taps and a bistro which I've heard is good.
13 personas locales recomiendan
High Caliber Karting and Entertainment
1982 W Grand River Rd
13 personas locales recomiendan
"Punch boredom in the face." High speed go-karts, axe throwing, rage rooms and an arcade all in one. Also a bar with 32 beer taps and a bistro which I've heard is good.
Historic one-screen theatre where you'll think the prices have gone back in time, too.
Sun Theatre
150 W Grand River Ave
Historic one-screen theatre where you'll think the prices have gone back in time, too.
City Limits is the best bowling experience around. They also have sand volleyball pits, pool tables, and a good bar & grill.
City Limits
801 Cedar St
City Limits is the best bowling experience around. They also have sand volleyball pits, pool tables, and a good bar & grill.